Modulation Of Human Basophil Degranulation By Geranylgeranyl Compounds

5-7 Our present finding that exogenously added GGA can enhance basophil activation suggests that GGA enters basophils and then behaves as a substrate in the cell activation pathway. Simvastatin, which can inhibit intracellular geranylgeranylation, suppressed basophil degranulation triggered by antiIgE antibody and PMA, but not A23187. This finding coincides with our results that GGA augmented basophil degranulation evoked by anti-IgE antibody and PMA, but not A23187 or MCP-1, suggesting that protein kinase C or related molecule(s) may be the target of GGA. It appears that geranyl and farnesyl compounds are not involved in the above pathway in basophils. GGA’s various novel actions are being unveiled through recent experimental approaches. Mostly based on murine studies, this compound is able to